This is the first Lapsang Souchong I’ve ever had and I’m not sure how it compares to non-organic Upton version. Its so interesting for me. I can’t smell this and not think of my grandpa’s cabin in the pines on the Olympic peninsula. My grandpa’s cabin had a wood burning stove for heat year round and during the summers we would help him split wood to get ready for winter. I can just remember sitting on his log splitter and splitting wood with the crisp damp Pacific Northwest air wrought with the smell of pine and smoke from his fire. He smoked a pipe and a bit of tobacco smell is also woven through this cup The tea is extremely smoky in the leaves with slightly less in the brewed cup. It is wrought with bits of mint and menthol and a touch of toasty sweetness. I don’t think I could drink this every day, but I want to drink it every time I want to remember my grandpa and the wonderful summers at his cabin.
Boiling
3 min, 30 sec
